ASHROSE, one of South Australia's oldest Merino studs, is in new hands with its sale to David, Tim and Jono Graetz and their families, Mundulla.
The Graetzs are committed to ensuring that the more than 100-year-old stud continues well into the future, servicing its long-standing client base.
In 2007, Glenstrae Pastoral Company bought the Ashrose Merino and Poll Merino studs from WB Ashby & Sons at Tintinara and relocated them to Willalooka, with the purpose of breeding rams for Mount Lyndhurst Station, which Glenstrae bought earlier in the same year.
But with the sale of the Glenstrae property at Willalooka late last year, its new owners – who bought the property on a walk in-walk out basis – decided to offer the Poll Merino stud for sale.
The sale includes more than 500 mixed-age stud Poll Merino ewes, ram lambs, semen reserves and the high-profile Ashrose prefix.
The Graetzs have also bought the 2012-drop Merino ram lambs to offer to clients.
Ashrose stud Merino ewes will be moved into Glenstrae's commercial flock.
David, Tim and Jono describe their acquisition of Ashrose as an "opportunity of a lifetime", having also run the North Rhine Poll Merino stud for close to 30 years.
They have seen the performance of the Ashrose bloodlines commercially, buying many large-frame Merino ewes from Mutooroo Pastoral Company at the Yelta sales for their commercial flock.
"We are passionate about Merino breeding and we are always looking for nice, crimpy white wool on a reasonable-frame sheep, so it was a way for us to get some great genetics too," David said.
With a number of Merino studs in the area leaving the industry, the Graetzs saw an opening to supply more Poll Merino rams.
"There is great demand for Merinos as mothers of prime lambs, and many people who have tried other breeds such as SAMMs, Dohnes and even Dorpers are coming back to Merinos," he said.
"A good commercial Merino ewe is always a saleable item," Tim said.
The Graetzs are committed to continuing to service Ashrose stud's many loyal pastoral clients.
"We just want to reassure ram buyers it will be business as usual and we will have both horned and Poll rams available," Tim said.
To ensure a smooth transition for clients, Glenstrae manager Bill Baade – who has managed Ashrose for the past five years – will continue in an advisory role.
"The new owners were not interested in running a stud and wanted to reduce the sheep numbers on the property," he said.
"It is great we have been able to hold it together because it is a stud with so much history."
*Full report in Stock Journal, April 18 issue, 2013.
